Model railroad car coupler



Jan. 13, 1959 G. J. BAILEY, JR 2,858,393

v MODEL RAILROAD CAR coUPLER vFiled June 22, 1956 flied Sores Patate 2,868,393 MODEL RAILROAD CAR coUPLER George J.\Bailey, Jr., Fitchburg, Mass. Application June 22.`1Sl56,` Serial No. 593,129 2 Claims. ""(Cl.213-175) This invention relates' to improvements in` toy or model railroad car couplers and more particularly to au improved model railroad car coupler adapted to be actuated by a magnet;

The primary object of this invention is to provide in combination with a model railroad car coupler, means responsive to a magnetic `field for moving, the coupler element to an open position and means for returning the coupler element to a closed position upon removal of the magnetic field.

A specific object of this invention is to provide ahori` zontally extending coupler pivotally` mounted on a vertical axis, means urging said coupler to aclosedV locking position relative tof a second oppositely positioned coupler, and pivotal lever means operative when attracted by a magnet to pivot said coupler about said vertical axis to an open or-unlocked position relative to said secondcoupler. n 1 i Another specific object of4 this invention is to `provide the combination of an improved couplerdevice attached to a model railroad car, and magnetici means positioned on the model yrailroad bed for` releasingfsaid coupler device.

Other objects and many of the attendant" advan centrally of a pair of tracks;

Fig. 4 is a plan view similar to Fig. 2 but with the two couplers in unlocked position` relativeto each other;

Fig. 5 is an end elevation similar to Fig. 3 but'with the couplers in unlocked position; and

Fig. 6` is an end` elevation showing the actuating lever of one of the coupler devices in position to be attracted by an electromagnet positioned centrally of` a pair of tracks.

Referring now to Fig. 1, thereV is shown apair'of railroad cars A and B positioned on a pair of tracks 2 affixed to a plurality of cross-ties 4. Thespecilc structure of the tracks and ties forms no part ofthe present invention. However, positioned between the tracks and secured to one or more of the cross-ties 4 is a magnet which may take `the form of a permanent bar magnet 8 (Figs. l, 3 and 5) or an electromagnet 10 (Fig, 6) energized from a suitable source, not shown.

Each of the cars A and B is provided with identical coupler assemblies at its opposite ends. The coupler assemblies at the adjacent ends of the cars A and B are in opposite and reversed relation to each other. Since the coupler assemblies are identical in` structure,

2,868,393 i Patented` Jan. 13, 1959 ice,

like numerals are assigned hereinafter to like parts of the mating coupler assemblies of carsfA and B.

`Located on the underside of cars A and B are two hollow enclosures or boxes 12. Combined with housings 12` are identical coupling elements indicated generally by the numerals 14. Each coupling element 14 comprises a body portion 16 pivotally mounted at its rear end on a `vertical pin 18 secured to housing 12. Both coupling elements of cars A and B swing in a horizontal plane. The extent of their swings in one direction is limited by side walls 20 of housing 12.

A suitable spring element is used to bias coupling elements 14 in a direction opposing movement toward side walls 20. A preferred form of spring element is illustrated in the drawings and `comprises a curved extension or tail 24' formed integral with body 16 of the coupling element. The end of'spring tail 24 engages side wall 26 `of housing 12 which is directly opposite side wall 2l).` When the coupling elements of cars A and B are swung away from eachother toward side walls 20, the tailsZ-t are placed under stress. As soon as the forces urging the coupling elements toward side walls 20 are released, tails 24' function to automatically return the coupling` elements to their normal position. The normal position,` of the individual coupling element is determined by certain lever means hereinafter described. At this timeit su'ices to state that the normal position of each coupling element 14 is that in which the coupling element is substantially in parallel relation withside walls 20 and 26.`

The'torward or free end of body portion 16 of the coupling `elementis provided with an angular' extension comprising a laterally extending portion 28 having a cam surface 30, and a forwardly"`extending portion 32. The latter is provided with a laterally extending cam surface 34 and 4ahook 36. Cam surfaces 34 are oriented at anangle in excess `of a right angle relative to body portions- 16 and `forwardly extending portions 32, so that upon engagement with each other they will cause the two coupling elements to swing away from each other toward side walls 20. When this occurs the coupling elements ,14 are said to be moving to open position. Thus as ycarsAand B are brought together so that they cam surfaces `334 are made to engage each-` other,` the coupling elementswill be cammed to open position and the-hooks 36 will slide past each other. Immediately thereafter, unless so-me outside force is applied to prevent it, the coupling elements will be urged byspring tails 24 in a direction away from side walls 2`gan`dtoward each other. At this point the two coupling elements are eiectively coupled to each other for if one of the cars `is `subsequently pulled away from the other, the two hoc-ks 36 will be come fully engaged and the two cars will move together. Due to the spacing betweenl hook 36 and vertical cam surface 30 being greater than the hook' o-f the mating coupling element, some lost motion is permitted between the two coupling elements. Accordingly; if cars A and B should be stopped with the Vhooks 36- in full engagement with each other, the

cars may be moved slightly relative each other so that p theliooks may be moved outof contact with each other. Should "the cam surface 341 ofl one coupling element engage the cam surface 30 of the other coupling element,

the twoI elements will swing toward the side Wall 20, that is, toward open posit-ion relative to each other;

However, assoonqas one car is moved away from the other, the coupling elements willfbe returned by springs 24 toelosed position in time for hooks 36 to become reengaged.

Tol maintain the two coupling elements locked to each' other when the endot'- one 'car isv urged vertically with respect? totheA adjacent-f end of the next-` car, each coupling element is provided with a depending extension 40 having a laterally extending projection 42 which extends beneath the cam surface 34 of the other coupling element. Thus if the adjacent end of car'Ashould be liftedupwardly relative to car `B, the projectionv 42 of its coupling element 14 wouldengage the lower edge of cam surface 34 of car B and so limit the relative vertical movement of the two cars as to `keep them coupled together.

Insofar as they have been described the coupler devices illustrated in the drawings are conventional. However, the present invention relates to and constitutes an irnprovement in the means for smoothly and positively uncoupling these devices and, therefore, to therextent necessary to describe and claim it, the couplers as previously described form part of the present invention.

. The improvement provided by the present invention comprises means for applying a suitable force to the coupling elements in the direction necessary to move them away from 'each other to open position and to keep them in open position until they have moved past each other in the direction of movement of the cars with which they are associated.

As previously described when the two cars A and B are moved toward each other, cam surfaces 34 engage cam surfaces 30 and urge the coupling element from closed position to open position; However, as soon as the cars are backed off slightly so that cam surfaces 34 nolonger engage cam surfaces 30 the coupling elements immediately return to close position so that hooks 36 are locked to each other. If while the cars are being pulled away from each other some force is applied to the coupling elements urging them to remain in open position long enough for hooks 36 to pass by each other, the cars will become uncoupled.

Accordingly, the structure'. hereinafter described provides means for applying a suitable force to the couplers in the direction and of a magnitude necessary to move the couplers away from each other to open position (Fig. 4) and to keep them in open position until the two cars have been completely uncoupled and separated. t Axed to the underside of each housing 12 is an elongated sleeve bearing 44. As seen in Figs. 2-5, bearings 44 are positioned closer to wall 26 than to wall 20 of the housings. The bearings extend longitudinally of the cars. A slot 46 is provided in the bottom wall 48 of each housing. Slots 46 commence nearwalls 26 and extend to or slightly beyond the longitudinal center line of the housings. Rotatably supported by each sleeve 44 is steel. wire 50. This wire is bent to provide at its rea end a short upstanding portion 52 that extends up through slot 46 and engages the adjacent edge of the body portion 16 of coupling member 14. Immediately beyond the forward end of sleeve 44 wire 50 is bent to form a portion 54 that resides in a vertical plane extending transversely of tracks 2. Portion 54 of wire 50 extends diagonally beneath coupling member 14 in the direction of side wall 20. Wire 50 is bent a third time to form a horizontal leg 56 extending from the bottom end of diagonal portion 54 toward the adjoining car. The leg 56 is held normally in a raised position (Fig. 3) by the coupling element which is biased toward upstanding portion 52 by spring tail 24. However, if the leg 56 is moved counterclockwise (Fig. 3), wire 50 will rotate in sleeve 44 and its upstanding leg portion 52 will act to move coupling element 14 about pivot 18 to open position. The necessary clockwise movement is provided by magnet 8 (or magnet 10). As seen in Figs. 1 4, leg 56 of the wire is located below but to one side of housing 12 and runs parallel to but above tracks 2. Since magnet 8 (or magnet 10) is located exactly halfway between the two tracks, leg 56 of the wire is above but to one side of the magnet. If one of the cars is positioned with its leg 56 above the magnet, the latter will attract theA leg 56 and cause wire 50 to rotate counterclockwise f f 4 i to move coupling member 14 to open position (Figs. 4 and 5). If thereafter the ycar is moved away from the magnet so that wireV 50 is no longer aiected by the magnetic eld, spring tail 24 will return the coupling member to its normal at rest or closed position and wire 50 will be rotated clockwise by the coupling member to return leg 56 to its normal raised position.

The above described structure facilitates uncoupling of cars A and B. Assuming that the two cars are coupled together (Fig. 2) and it is desired to vuncouple them, they are moved along tracks 2 until the two legs 56 are over the magnet. Then the cars are stopped. So long as the hooks 36 engage each other the magnet and wire 50 will not act to uncouplev the cars. However, if one of the cars is moved toward the other just enough to move the hooks 36 out of Contact with each other, the magnet will attract wires 50 and cause the latter to pivot the coupling elements 14 to open position. If then one of the cars is movedaway from the other, hooks 36 will not reengage and the cars'will be completely uncoupled.

Recoupling is accomplished in the normal manner by bringing the cars together. The spring action inherent in the couplers will allow vthe respective cam surfaces 34 to slide pasteach other, thus causing reengagement of hooks 36. However, if one of the cars to be coupled is positioned withits leg 56 over the magnet, it is necessary first to move itl beyond the magnet so that its coupling element will be free to return to locking position. If two cars coupled together travel over the magnet they will remain coupled.k The magnet and wire lever 50 will be effective to -decouple the cars only if they are stopped over the magnet. When the engine is stopped quickly, th'e momentum of the cars coupled thereto will cause them to overtravel to the extent allowed by the lost mo-` tion permitted between cam surfaces 30 and 34 of adjacent couplings. Thus when two cars are stopped quickly over the magnet, the momentum of the trailing car will be sufcient to carry the hook of its coupling member out of engagement with the hook of the leading car so as to permit magnet 8 (or 10) to attract one or both wires 50 to pivot the couplings to open position wherein they are free to be moved away from each other.

' It is to be understood that housings 12 may be constructed separately of the cars with which they are associated or may be formed integral therewith as is desirable when the model cars are molded from plastic. The rear ends of the housings need not be closed but may be open as shown in the drawings. The front ends of the housings must be open to permit the coupling elements to be swung about their pivots. Itis to be noted that move- 'ment of a coupling element toward side wall 26 of the housing when the coupling element is not locked to another coupling, is limited by wire 50, the weight of portions 54` and 56 being sufficient for this purpose when spring tail 24 is not under stress. The latter is substanltially undeformed when the coupling element is in the 20. Preferably magnet 8 has a length substantially in l excess of wire leg 56.

The foregoing coupler construction has the advantage of being simple to fabricate and of being operable by means of a permanent magnet as well as by an electromagnet adapted to be permanently as well'as selectively energized during operation of the model trains emhodyv ing the invention.

From the foregoing description it will be readilyseen that therehas been produced such a device as substan# tially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, the following is cla-imed as new and useful, and upon which Letters Patent are desired: Y

1. A` coupler for a model railroad `car comprising an elongated coupling element pivotally supported at its rear end for swinging movement in a horizontal plane, the forward end of said coupling element having a laterally extending member provided with a hook portion for engaging the corresponding hook portion of a Second coupling element, said laterally extending member also having a vertical cam face residing at an oblique angle to the longitudinal axis of said coupling element, spring means biasing said coupling element against swinging movement in a first direction, lever means for swinging said coupling element in said first direction, said lever means comprising a first portion in engagement with said coupling element, a second portion extending downward- `ly and transversely beneath said coupling element and a third horizontally extending portion connecting said first and second portions, said third portion being rotatably supported in a horizontal plane and disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal center line of said coupling element.

2. A coupler as defined by claim 1 wherein said first portion of said lever engages one side edge of said coupling element and the free end of said second portion terminates beyond the opposite side edge of said cou pling element, said first portion of said lever acting to swing said coupling element in said first direction when the free end of said lsecond portion is swung downwardly and laterally in the direction of said one side edge of said coupling element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,235,555 Koch Mar. 18, 1941 2,261,258 Kinnear Nov. 4, 1941 2,288,792 Daniels July 7, 1942` 2,574,630 Edwards et al Nov. 13, 1951 2,578,368 Nehrke Dec. 11, 1951 2,631,740 Watson Mar. 17, 1953 2,661,852 Bonanno Dec. 8, 1953 2,778,508 Beger Jan. 22, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 384,140 Great Britain Dec. 1, 1932y 

